If you know me personally, then my enthusiasm for a ubiquitous trend like #ThrowbackThursday may seem out of character – but, then again, this is no ordinary Thursday. Later today, my team and I will graciously welcome many guests to our 25th anniversary celebration here at Dobies Health Marketing.
As a company, we have been creating healthier brands for 25 years and counting. It has been an amazing journey so far, one we are very eager to continue because we know the best is yet to come. Right now, healthcare is filled with extraordinary potential. An industry long known for slow change is now on the cusp of rapid reinvention. As the centuries-old paradigm of sick care transforms into lifecare, industry leaders everywhere are taking action to create healthier populations – making it their mission to keep people healthy rather than just being there to treat them when they’re sick.
So, as I reflect on 25 years of doing what I love – what WE ALL love – today marks the ultimate Throwback Thursday. I’ve learned a lot over the years, and it’s striking to me how many lessons from a quarter-century ago are still relevant today, and how many are not.
For example, 25 years ago, the notion of publishing quality ratings was just getting started. Marketing was still viewed as a department like any other, and social media, of course, did not exist. Company culture was rarely discussed in the same sentence as brand and, perhaps most notably, it was unheard of to create a healthcare business model with consumers at the center of all strategic decisions and planning. Today, this approach, while fledgling, is taking hold across the industry – from rural critical access hospitals and local community health plans to large academic medical centers and national carriers. Even B2B companies and non-provider healthcare entities place a greater focus now on keeping people healthy, as they look to acquire new companies and partnerships that extend their brand promises in ways that make the most meaningful impact on the greatest number of lives.
Today, we work with clients all across the healthcare spectrum on these and many other strategies to help them revitalize their brands, amplify their share of voice and become market leaders. We have a formalized corporate social engagement strategy and encourage our clients to adopt a social purpose of their own. And through it all, we have championed our unique “strategy-first” approach to healthcare marketing and branding because that’s our superpower. We come to work every day to make a difference in how people think about health – that’s been our top driver every single day…for 25 years and counting.
On a personal note, I’d like to express my deepfelt thanks to all the clients, vendors, partners, employees, associates, freelancers and others I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. I hope to see all of you at the celebration later today.
About the Author
Carol Dobies is the CEO and Founder of Dobies Health Marketing, where she has been bringing healthcare brands to life for 25 years. Share your thoughts with her by tweeting @DobiesGroup or commenting on our Facebook page.